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Endovascular Neurosurgery

With the addition of neurosurgeons Drs. Mahan and Mayshan Ghiassi and the new hybrid operating suite, Washington Regional will be the only hospital in the Northwest Arkansas region to offer patients the emerging specialty of endovascular neurosurgery.

Dr. Mayshan Ghiassi and Dr. Mahan Ghiassi each completed post-graduate training in both neurosurgery and endovascular techniques, making them among only a handful of dual-trained neurosurgeons in the United States.

Washington Regional’s innovative hybrid operating suite was designed to accommodate both endovascular and open neurosurgical cases, ensuring that our patients have access to the latest in cerebrovascular surgery options.

How Does Endovascular Neurosurgery Work?

During the procedure, one of our endovascular neurosurgeons inserts a tiny tube called a catheter into a large blood vessel, usually in the leg, and maneuvers it to the site to be treated. Then, the surgeon uses special tools and devices through the tube to reopen a clogged vessel, or re-line or seal off a vessel. The surgeon uses X-rays to see where the catheter and devices are located during the surgery.

Our surgeons also use interventional neuroradiology techniques to perform diagnostic procedures, including cerebral angiography to find blockages in the blood vessels of the head and neck.

What are the Benefits of Endovascular Neurosurgery?

Endovascular procedures are minimally invasive; they involve a small site where the catheter goes in, instead of a large site where the body is opened and exposed. As a result, endovascular surgeries typically involve less risk and faster recovery than open brain surgery.